Pope Francis urges Pakistan government to enhance security of Christians

Followed by the heinous terror strike at Lahore’s Gulshan-e-Iqbal park, Pope Francis has urged the Government of Pakistan to take all the necessary steps to ensure protection and security of the country’s Christians and other religious minorities. The terror group which had claimed responsibility of the attack said that it had
purposely, targeted Christians.

Previously, he had condemned the “vile and senseless” suicide bombing which was aimed to target Christian families who were celebrating Easter. He pushed for enhanced protection for religious minorities particularly the Christians in the predominantly Muslim nation.

While addressing the gathering of believers in St Peter’s Square on Easter Monday, Pope Francis said, “Easter Sunday was bloodied by an abominable attack that massacred so many innocent people, for the most part families of the Christian minority, especially women and children, gathered in a public park to joyfully pass the Easter holiday.”

However, Pope Francis had also appealed to the Pakistani government to take all possible effective steps so that the safety and security of Pakistani Christians and other religious minorities is made certain.

The Pontiff also appealed to “the civil authorities and all community leaders in that nation to do everything possible to ensure the security and serenity of the population, particularly the most vulnerable religious minorities.”

While previously, Pope Francis has frequently aired passionate sympathies with the persecuted Christians in the Middle East, Africa and Asia who have been brutally targeted by the various rising Islamic extremist groups. While addressing the general public during the Good Friday service, the Pontiff sharply criticized the what he called “cowardly silence” exhibited by the world towards the persecution and killing of Christians.

Moreover, the Pontiff determinedly called for an enhanced and improved security for the Pakistani Christians and other religious minorities. He also appealed to Pakistan’s civil society saying, “the civil authorities and all community leaders in that nation to do everything possible to ensure the security and serenity of the population, particularly the most vulnerable religious minorities.” At this occasion he requested all the believers who were present to pray for the victims of the Lahore attack.

As previously done by the Pontiff followed by past terror strikes in Europe, he had strongly declared that, “violence and murderous hate lead only to sorrow and destruction, instead, respect and brotherhood are the only path to achieve peace.” He also urged the believers to pray for an end to the actions of “violent persons, who sow terror and death.”